<p>I will start.
Mine is Moving to Colorado. It definitely changed our lives from material focused to nature loving and a healthy lifestyle. This change of nurture carried through with our kids. In one moment of frustration with job/lifestyle 20 years ago, a blind leap of faith to an unknown territory was the best thing we ever did.</p>
<p>Well, I don’t know about the “best” because that feels like I’d be downplaying other things that were the “best” at the time that turned out not to be. But one of the best things I ever did was tell this new guy I was dating, this confirmed bachelor, that he was dating a woman with baggage-an angry teenage boy, a little girl, a vindictive ex, and who was steel reeling from the sudden death of her mother, plus some personal stuff I don’t need to go into here. We were on a walk on one of those crisp and bright fall days you don’t associate with Seattle almost 15 years ago exactly.</p>
<p>I finished up my piece and sat, expecting him to say, “Well, it was nice, but I must get going.” Instead he smiled and held out his hand and said, “I’ve been waiting to meet someone like you.” We were married the next summer.</p>
<p>Suggesting that our nuclear family take a special trip the spring our younger child, DS, graduated from college in May 2012. </p>
<p>His sister, six years older, was dating someone very seriously and I figured she was likely to become engaged. We had not taken a full family trip during son’s college years because he had been working summers and had no vacation time. Once he started a post-college job his vacation time would be limited. D was living in a city six hours from us.</p>
<p>I figured it was likely to be our family’s last opportunity to travel just the four of us. We talked it over and decided on Italy, which none of us had visited and we all had an interest in. This was a splurge for our family, as most of the vacations we had taken were auto trips in our region of the U.S.</p>
<p>It turned out to be a magical trip for all of us – it frightens me to think we might not have done it. We had a lot to celebrate, including my survival from an aggressive breast cancer, the kids being launched, my husband getting a nice late-career new job opportunity, etc.</p>
<p>During the trip our D told us to expect an engagement at some point. She did become engaged that September and was married last weekend (to a wonderful guy).</p>
<p>Much as I am thrilled with our new son-in-law, I am very glad that our nuclear family had this special time just the four of us before our family expanded. My memories of that time together, in such a special place, will be forever dear to me.</p>
<p>One of the best things I did was to belatedly return calls for a foreclosure (I was commissioner). One of the calls was to H, who had been trying to ask me to the opera. We went, had a great time and married 2+ years later. Have been very happy together for 26+ years! :)</p>
<p>Recently, the best thing I ever did was leave my last job for my current one. My boss was absolutely impossible, the work was nothing like it was presented in the interview and was just this side of having a nervous breakdown for this and a variety of other reasons. I was able to transfer to another department whose head had interviewed me before and had wanted to hire me but could not. I thank God every day for hearing my prayer and getting me out of there.</p>
<p>Have kids.</p>
<p>Logically, my husband and I should never have had a family. We were very isolated, with no family nearby, and we were poor candidates for parenthood, having come from troubled families ourselves.</p>
<p>But we did it anyway. And raising our kids was the highlight of my life.</p>
<p>Marry my husband, who is still the most amazing man, and better than I could ever deserve.</p>
<p>Ah, greenbutton and I have the same post! I am very, very thankful that I noticed that my boyfriend of several years had similiar traits to my sister’s soon to be ex. I got out of that relationship and got to know my husband and he still sweeps me off my feet.</p>
<p>As much as I love my kids and my wife of 21 years, none of it would have happened without a couple of earlier decisions.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>After being an engineer for 18 months, I quit my 80 hour/week job to go to work in investment banking. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t sitting alone in a room with books and calculations. I learned to read people, to interact socially on a more meaningful level, to dress better and present myself. The confidence and the fast-flowing cash led to a heck of a lot more fun than my life had been to that point. Special thanks to the ladies who are now roughly age 45 to 55 who enjoyed dancing and hanging at the beach - I remember you all fondly.</p></li>
<li><p>I saw some red flags in that group of co-workers and returned to engineering about 3 months before the SEC shut the place down. Now though, I was confident, in great shape, and had a portfolio and a killer wardrobe. I married well out of my league and have a life I wouldn’t trade for the world.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Adopting my daughter from China, when I was almost 50 and she was almost 2. Logistically and legally, I couldn’t have done it 5 years before and I couldn’t have done it 5 years after. And although I worry a lot about being an old mom (thus my name here), I honestly don’t think it would have been ethical with a greater age difference. My daughter is my heart. I am a lucky woman.</p>
<p>^^^ Beautiful.</p>
<p>The obvious answer is having my three children - and I suppose, marrying their dad. :)</p>
<p>But, the “best thing I ever did” for ME - completing the C25K program. Done by my choice, for me, by me and for my own personal gain and satisfaction. Life changing and has made me more defined in who I want to be and how I want to live - for myself, and for those people above! (kids and H!)</p>
<p>Like, abasket, aside from my kids it was taking up running years ago and running my first marathon.</p>
<p>The best thing I did as a young person was travel…specifically work in Japan and also drive across the US…doing so opened up the world for me. </p>
<p>The best thing I did as an adult was leave the big firm and downsize my life. I don’t have the income or savings of most of my colleagues but I have lots of time to read, carpool, do yoga and hang out with my daughter.</p>
<p>Can’t choose just one. . .</p>
<p>Serving in Peace Corps in Botswana, where I met H. So many memories/stories/experiences.</p>
<p>Having kids, all eight of them.</p>
<p>With H, quitting his practice after 7 years and ditching everything (except the kids, of course) for him to do a fellowship in Hawaii. Crazy, but awesome–learning to surf in my 40s.</p>
<p>The best thing I ever did was fall in love with the unexpected little boy that God sent to me when I thought I was all done with babies.</p>
<p>Going into the Navy right after college. I was able to spend two years in Spain and eight years in San Diego, and I continue to enjoy the benefits of being a retiree, especially the health insurance.</p>
<p>The best thing I ever did for myself was enlist in the Marines. My choice was either enlist or be drafted and then probably get sent over to Vietnam. I learned discipline, organization, esprit de corps, and how much each of us is capable of doing on a day to day basis. After my tour I went back to college and my tuition was paid for by my state, and my room and board was paid for under the GI Bill. Plus, I even got some money towards grad school. The Marine Corps doesn’t so much build men (and women) as it does reveal our own manhood to each of us. There is no doubt in my mind I never would have obtained a degree had I not joined.</p>
<p>The best thing I ever did for someone else was to save a kayaker from drowning. We were in a canoe/kayak race in flood conditions and 30 degree temperatures. My buddy and I paddled around a corner and saw a guy threading water and unable to get to shore or to his kayak. He was panicking so we stopped and did the right thing. We let him hold on to the side of the canoe while we fought the raging current for at least five minutes slowly getting him to shore. By then we were exhausted and too tired to paddle another 12 miles. It was our turn to dump soon after, and the water was frigid. We later heard that the guy searched for us all day and wanted to thank us for saving him. I had chills for two days afterward.</p>
<p>I felt good about it because a friend and I were once saved from drowning by a man in a boat when I was around 14.</p>
<p>Marry a great guy. Raise two great kids. Work a great career job for 38 years…and retire!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Going against oncologist’s advice and having my son. Raising him has been my greatest joy.</p></li>
<li><p>Choosing a profession that I still enjoy, even tho not the most lucrative.</p></li>
<li><p>Developing the strength to leave bad relationships, and enjoy life as a single. Cherish my s/o and my g/fs and work colleagues.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Got an MBA after nine years in a no-future career. Gave me an opportunity to earn some real money.</p>
<p>When S1 was 2 1/2, moved from NYC to the CT 'burbs on a corporate relocation.</p>
<p>Having S2 even though I was almost 41.</p>